Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Quan Yin/Nada Yoga

Legend says Quan Yin,originally a princess, having forsaken marriage,lived her life in a conventmuch to her father's anger and distrust.She was a Buddhist Bodhisattwa ( a mortal who has achieved enlightenment and earned the right to enter Heaven or Nirvana), and when at the gates of Heaven,She heard someone on Earth cry, and so turned back,vowing that she would stay on Earth to do all she could to ease our suffering.She would not enter heaven until everyone could go there with Her.She was known as the goddess of Compassion and Mercy.There are many ways to invoke Goddess Quan Yin into one's life.The traditional mantra of OM MANI PADME HUM is one of the many approaches.One need not be a buddhist to invoke Her into his/her life.It is said to have a Quan Yin picture or statue in one's house brings good luck and protection to the household and family.

Master Ching Hai initiates sincere people longing to know the Truth,into the Quan Yin method.Master Ching Hai was born to well-off family in Aulac,the daughter of a highly reputed naturopath.She was brought up as Catholic, and learned the basics of Buddhism from Her grandmother.As a youg child she showed a precocious interest in philosophical and religious teachings, as well as uncommonly compassionate attitude towards all living beings.

As She grew,She travelled around many countries,searching for the perfect method of enlightment.Through many years of tests and tribulations,master Ching Hai finally found the Quan Yin method and the Divine Transmission in the Himalayas.After a period of diligent practice,during Her retreat in Himalayas,She attained complete enlightenment.

THE QUAN YIN METHOD:-The chinese characters mean contempaltion of the Light and Sound within oneself.These inner experiences have been repeatedly described in the spiritual literature of all the world's religions since ancient times.

INNER SOUND:-The primal vibration or Sound is in its nature transcendental and therefore perceived in silence.Jesus's disciples call it the "Holy Spirit"or the "Word"(which is from the Greek word "Logos"meaning Sound).In the beginning was the Word,and the Word was with God,and the Word was God.After Shakyamuni Buddha attained enlightenment,He spoke of this Sound too,calling it the "drum of immortality".Krishna equated Himself with Sound in Ether.Mohammed perceived this Sound in the cave at Gare-Hira when He had a vision of the archangel Gabriel, and Lao Tzu described the Tao as the "Great Tone".

Daily practice of the Quan Yin Method of meditation and keeping of the Five Percepts are most essential.

Excerpts from The Heart of the Goddess,Hallie Inglehart Austin:-

"QUAN YIN MEDITATION:-Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes.Allow your breathing to deepen and your mind and body to relax.Imagine that it is nighttime and you are on top of a hill looking out over the ocean.The full moon has just risen and the moonlight shimmers on the water.You gaze at the moon for a long time;the moonlight is powerful but soft,and looking at it makes you feel calm and happy.

The moon now begins to get brighter and brighter,so bright that you are barely able to look at it.

Gradually,it becomes Quan Yin Herself,Her whole body surrounded by a glowing aureole.She stands on a lotus that floats on the waves.At the sight of you she smiles beautifully,tears of mercy and compassion shine in Her eyes.Imagine Her radiance filling you,Her strength,Her peace,Her compassion becoming a part of you.If you repeat Her name,your mind will be calm,and She will stay with you.

Finally it is time for Her to leave and She becomes smaller and smaller.At last the sea and sky vanish too,and you rest in contemplation of the beautiful ,empty space that is left.Let yourself become space.When you are ready,come back into your body and slowly stretch.Open your eyes and look at the world around you."This method is said to invoke the Inner Music within oneself.Master hing Hai said"When artificial light and artificial music(here 'artificial' means material) could make people become so relaxed and so wise-could you imagine how much the real thing can help us in our wisdom?The real thing is beyond this world,but it is accessible to every man,should we want contact with it. This is the Inner heavenly Music and The Inner Heavenly Sound.And depending upon the intensity of this Music,we can push ourselves beyond this world,go into a deeper level of understanding.

The Sound is the kind of vibrational power that pushes us into the higher levels,but it does that without any noise,without much trouble and no cost and no discomfort to the "experiencer".That is the way to go into the beyond."

Apart from the meditation mentioned above,The Five Percepts of the Quan Yin Method are:-

1.Refrain from taking the life of sentient beings;

2.Refrain from speaking what is not true;

3.Refrain from taking what is not yours;

4.Refrain from sexual misconduct;

5.Refrain from using intoxicants.

The above percept requires strict adherence to a vegan or lacto-vegetarian diet.No meat,fish,poultry,eggs(fertilized or nonfertilized).

Master Ching Hai has stressed elaborately on the importance of a vegetarian diet for the immediate attainment of enlightenment through the Quan Yin Method.